lunch break

hungry journalists, and the 99 cent pizza place waited a block away,
past the smoke of hotdog stands and hoards of dawdling tourists on 33rd Street.

dollar bills in hands for cheesy slices.

a long and narrow corridor led to the large circles of pizzas on a small counter in the back -
and a languishing Indian server looked at the eager customers wearily.

two greasy slices on an undersized paper plate on a tray too large.

journalists talked curiously to one other as they chewed,
a hungry eater wore unsatisfied eyes,
the servers gawked, and so we slid off the slimy stools.